(Getting Started) Public Administration an optional for success in Civil Services Examination
Getting Started for Public Administration Mains
Public Administration an optional for success in civil services Examination
Why only Public Administration as an optional ?
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Every year almost half of the candidates qualified finally for the UPSC Civil Services examination had Public Administration as an optional ( it has 2 in top 10, 6 in top 20, 21 in top 50, 44 in top 100 & 434 out of 910 selections) i.e success ratio was approximately 48 %, it was simply amazing.
- Public Administration not only covers an optional but also almost 60% of General Studies syllabus in terms of content and marks allotted
- Every year able to cover an essay from the ‘Polity ,Governance and Democracy’ section.
- Interview has always been testing the candidates' suitability for Civil Service and Public Administration deals with the government in action or the Civil Service and that is what the civil service examination is all about.
In the light of recent changes in the syllabus of General Studies in year 2013 , Public Administration if opted as an optional subject is going to place a student with cutting edge and a student without this subject as an optional is going to lack that competitive advantage .
One actually would prepare for 1100 marks = (500 marks for Public Administration as an optional subject + more than 50% of the General studies (i.e. 400 marks) as discussed below + 200 marks of Essay).
Link Between Public Administration and General Studies II, III and IV – A Survey
Public Administration- I and II (500 Marks)
The topics indicated in General Studies Paper II, III, and IV covered within Paper – II of Public Administration (Indian Administration) and certain chapters of Paper–I Administrative Behaviour, Accountability and Control, Public Policy, Financial Administration, Administrative Law ,Development Dynamics, and Organisations .
General Studies – II (250 Marks)
- Public Administration studies Constitution, Polity & Governance, Governance is exclusive area under Public Administration
- Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
- Separation of powers between various organs, Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
- Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
- Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary-Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
- Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
- Role of civil services in a democracy.
General Studies – III (250 Marks)
- Disaster Management, Planning and Budgeting have been given special area of study under Public Administration.
- Issues relating to planning
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
- Government Budgeting.
- Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Environment
- Disaster and disaster management.
- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
- Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
- Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
General Studies – IV (250 Marks)
Ethics, Integrity, Attitude and Emotional Intelligence etc. are also studied in Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology but its application in governance and administration is studied in public administration – this is what the essence of the new syllabus of 2013.
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Aptitude and foundational values of Civil Services, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.(Topics studied only in ‘Personnel Administration’ chapter of Public Administration)
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Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.( The General Studies syllabus requires their application in Public Administration or Government only)
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Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.(Covered under the Administrative ethics section of Public Administration)
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Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. (Part of ‘Accountability and Control’ chapter of Public Administration)
Topics which are related to the core value of Public Administration
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of
Ethics in - human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and
public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of
great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and
educational institutions in inculcating values.
(Without knowing the foundational concept of Administrative values & ethics of Public Administration , you cannot crack this topic) - Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
- Case Studies on above issues
ESSAY (200 Marks)
- Besides, a student of Public Administration will always find a favourable topic in Essay from ‘Polity ,Governance and Democracy’.
- For Example, You can review previous years papers :
- Public Private Partnership (IAS 2012)
- Formation of smaller states, and it’s implication on Administration, finance and development. (IAS 2011)
- Preparedness of our society for India’s Global leadership role (IAS 2010)
- Globalization versus Nationalism. (IAS 2009)
- Role of media in Good Governance. (IAS 2008)
- Evaluation of Panchayati Raj System in India from the point of view of eradication of poverty to power to people (IAS 2007)
- Protection of Ecology and Environment is Essential for Sustained Economic Development(2006)
- Justice must reach the poor(2005)
- Judicial Activism and Indian Democracy (IAS 2004)
- How should a Civil Servant conduct himself ? (IAS 2003)
- Liability of Media in Democracy. (IAS 2002)
- What did we learn from Democracy (IAS 2001)
- Implication of Globalization on India (IAS 2000)
- India needs a better Disaster Management system (IAS 2000)
- Judicial Activism. (IAS 2000)
- Reservation, Politics and Empowerment (1999)
- The language problem in India: Its past, present and prospects(1998)
- Judicial Activism(1997)
- Need for Transparency in Public Administration. (IAS 1996)
- Whither Indian Democracy. (IAS 1995)
- Politics, Business and Bureaucracy – a fatal triangle(1994)
- The Challenges before a Civil Servant today(1994)
- Ecological considerations need not hamper development(1993)